Unitary laboratory wash bottle



s- 1954 D. o. GUTH 2,687,227

' UNITARY LABORATORY WASH BOTTLE Filed Aug. 17. 1949 2 Shets-Sheet l.Znrenl'czr Durward a G'atk H wawymf g- 24, 1954 D. o. GUTH UNITARYLABORATORY WASH BOTTLE Filed Aug. 17.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, a 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICEUNITARY LABORATORY WASH BOTTLE Durward Guth, Elmwood Park, Ill.

Application August 17, 1949, Serial No. 110,830

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a unitary laboratory wash bottle, andmore particularly, to a wash bottle from which a continuous stream ofwater may be ejected merely by the manipulation of one hand of a personemploying the bottle.

In the laboratory sciences, and particularly, in the chemical arts, theprovision of an easily manipulated, inexpensive wash bottle has longbeen needed. Many various laboratory .expedients have been proposed, butat the present time, the familiar two-tube bottle employing the userslung pressure is still in general laboratory use, and there has not beenprovided, prior to the present invention, a simple, readily manipulatedwash bottle capa le of general use.

The present invention answers this long-felt want by the provision of asimple, relatively inexpensive wash bottle which may be fully operatedand manipulated by the use of one hand leaving the other hand free fortasks incidental to the employment of the wash bottle. Pressure isdeveloped within a flexible bulb which is secured to the flask invalve-controlled communication with the interior of the flask and withthe atmosphere to provide a pressure space for sub jecting liquidcontained within the flask to fluid pressure to eject the liquidtherefrom as a continuous stream.

Valve means are provided for controlling the admission of atmosphericair into the bulb without permitting the egress of air upon collapsingof the bulb. Additional valve means are provided for permitting theemission of air pressure from the bulb into the interior of the flask tosubject the surface of the liquid contained there'- in to pressure uponthe collapse of the bulb without permitting back flow of pressure fromthe flask to the bulb upon the release of the bulb. Thus, by the use ofthe device of the present invention a continuous liquid stream may beemitted from a flask of conventional design by merely inflating anddeflating the collapsible bulb.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the dimensions and shapeof the component parts are so adjusted that automatic venting of thechambers occurs whenever the pressures within any chamber becomeexcessive, thus obviating any possibility of damage to the wash bottlestructure by such excessive pressures.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention toprovide an improved wash bottle of simple, inexpensive design fordelivering a constant stream of liquid from a conventional laboratoryflask.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide animproved laboratory wash bottle having means defining an enclosedpressure space in valve-controlled communication with the atmosphere andwith the interior of a flask to subject liquid contained within theflask to super-atmospheric pressures so that a constant flow of liquidmay be ejected from the flask upon manipulation of the bulb.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide animproved laboratory wash bottle for use with a conventional laboratoryflask, the bottle including a bulb for attachment to the flask, meansfor admitting air to the bulb and means for admitting air under pressurefrom the bulb to the flask to pump air from the flask under pressure,with liquid being ejected from the flask in a constant stream uponmanipulation of the bulb.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide airpressure means for use with a laboratory flask including a bulb, meansfor forcing air into the bulb while preventing egress of air therefrom,a valve controlling introduction of air from the bulb into the flaskto'subject liquid therein to pressure and an air vent for releasing thepressure over the liquid to stop the flow thereof.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a laboratory wash bottleembodying certain of the novel features and characteristics of thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view,

with parts shown in elevation, of the bottle of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the plane IIIII[ ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the upper portionof a wash bottle illustrating a modified form of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken \along the plane VV ofFigure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, similar to Figure 4, illustratinganother embodiment of a wash bottle of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the modification ofFigure and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the planeVIII-VIII of Figure In Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawings, aunitary laboratory wash bottle I0 is illustrated which includes a flaskll of conventional type having a lower generally spherical body portion12 adapted to contain a body of liquid iii, an upstanding, integrallyformed cylindrical neck portion [4 which is provided at the top with anoutturned neck lip l5.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, I provide anattachment for a conventional flask which may be slipped over the neckof such a flask to provide a novel wash bottle. This attachmentcomprises a bulb [6, having a lower, generally circular skirt I1 and anupper cylindrical collar l8 which is arranged to be telescoped over theflask neck M. The bulb l6 provides a pressure chamber l9 whichcommunicates with the atmosphere through an air intake passageway 20formed in a rib 2| which is integral with the bulb I6 and which extendsalong the neck I4 of flask ll. Passageway 20 provides an air intake tothe pressure chamber l9. A second air passageway 22 is also provided bythe rib 2| to transmit the air pressure to chamber I3. This passageway22 communicates with an annular air channel 23 surrounding neck i4 belowlip I and communicates with the atmosphere through a vent 24. A thirdair duct 25 communicates with an air duct opening 25 which extendsaround the lip l5 and opens into the interior of flask ll.

The-collar I8 is provided with an upper central, circular opening 21having a beveled inner lower shoulder 28. A special type stopper such asstopper 29 is seated in opening 27, the stopper having a peripheralrecess 35 defining a lower inclined flange 3| having an upper surfaceseated against shoulder 28 and a lower surface spaced from lip l5 and anupper shoulder 32 overlying adjacent portions of the collar defining theopening 27. Stopper 29 is axially apertured to receive delivery tube 33extending downwardly through neck id for immersion in the body of liquid53 contained in the fiask H. That portion of tube 33 protruding beyondstopper 29 is bent downwardly as at 34 and a short length of flexibletubing 35 slipped over the free end of tube 33 to retain a tip or nozzle35 thereon while permitting relative movement of the tip 35 with respectto the tube 33.

The wash bottle attachment is provided with air inlet and. outlet valvesin rib 2!. This may be done conveniently by means of a tubular valveinsert 37 having a radial aperture 38 in open communication with thepressure chamber l9. Two ball check valves 39 and 4! are provided in thevalve insert 37 which cooperate with frustoconical valve seats 49 and42, respectively. Ball check valve 39 controls the admission of .airinto pressure chamber [9 upon expansion of bulb 86 while preventingegress of air through duct 20 upon a forceful collapse of the bulb l6.Ball check valve 41 allows the egress of air from pressure chamber i9upon collapse of bulb l6 while preventing the flow of air through outletconduit 22 upon the inflation of bulb IS with air entering throughconduit 20 and valve 39 The operation of the device just described willbe evident to those skilled in the art. Upon collapse of the bulb 16 bypressure from the hand, air is forced through opening 38, valve M andconduit 22 to annular channel 23. If the exterior opening 24 is leftuncovered, the air escapes to the atmosphere. On the other hand, ifopening 24 is closed, such as by covering it with the forefinger, theair is forced into the interior of flask ll, thus building up the airpressure within the flask M. This pressure, acting upon the surface ofthe body of liquid !3, forces liquid through delivery tube 33, flexibletubing 35 and tip 3%. The interior of the bulb it is refilled with airby releasing the hand allowing bulb It to expand, thereby causing air torush, on account of the difierential in pressure, through conduit '23,valve 39, and aperture 38 into the interior of bulb l5.

It is evident that if the collapsing and release of bulb I6 is repeatedin sequence, air is taken into bulb It while liquid is being deliveredthrough tube 33, and hence a constant stream of liquid may be maintainedby repeatedly squeezing and releasing the bulb 16.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 4, the flask H has a checkvalve 51 mounted in the neck Hi thereof. The delivery tube 33, theflexible tubing 3'5 and the tip 36 are the same as hereinbeforedescribed, as well as the stopper 50.

The novel attachment in this embodiment of my invention is a generallyellipsoidal bulb 51 having openings at each end defined by collarportions 152 and 53 through which the neck [4 of the flask ll extends.The upper collar 52 frictionally engages neck 14 immediately below theflask lip l5, and the lower collar portion 53 frictionally engages alower portion of neck l4 near body portion l2 of flask II. The bulb 5|carries an air inlet valve at having a ball check valve 55 operableagainst a seating face formed in the interior of valve 54 to allow thepassage of air into pressure space 56 defined by the interior of bulb 51while preventing the egress-of air from pressure space 56. Th valve 5previously referred to, may conveniently be mounted in an aperture 58formed in neck it, the housing of the valve 51 being of the snap-ringtype formed with a rubber gasket or with an expandable ring asis wellknown in the art. Valve 5! serves to permit the flow of air frompressure space 56 into flask it while preventing the admission ofpressure from the interior of flask H into pressurespace 55. If desired,the valve 51 may be eliminated by dimensioning aperture 53 so that airunder pressure from space 55 may pass therethrough while air under lesspressure within flask II will not have an opportunity to escape prior tothe generation of additional pressure Within space 55. Thus, acontinuous flow of liquidmay-occur through discharge tip 36 since backpressure losses from the flask H to the bulb 5| will be negligible. Asshown in Figure 5, valve 51 includes a ball check 59 and is similar inconstruction to valve 54.

The operation of the modification of Figures '4 and 5 is substantiallythe same as that hereinbefore described in connection with Figures 1 to3, inasmuch as the admission of atmospheric pressure into pressure space55 is controlled through valve 54 and the admission of air into theflask. H from pressure space 56 is controlled by valve 5?. It will beapparent that the constant delivery of liquid through tube 33 may beprovided upon continuous manipulation of bulb 5i.

In the modification of the present invention illustrated in Figures 6 to8, inclusive, parts .similar to those hereinbeforedescribed aredesignated by identical reference numerals. In this form of theinvention, the attachment may be made vdirectly to a conventional flaskH, as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, and the same type ofstopper and delivery tubing may be employed.

In this rnodifioation, a bulb to is secured to neck M of flask H by acollar '6! which snugly engages neck l4 adjacent lip 15 and which alsooverlies the lip H5. The lower portion of bulb 6B is provided with adependent projection '62 formed integrally therewith :and resting onneck M, the projection 62 being maintained against neck I l by means ofa resilient band \or ring 63 encircling neck It and the projection :62.An

inlet valve 64 similar in construction and operation to inlet valve 54of Figures 4 and 5 is provided to control the ingress of atmospheric airinto pressure space 65 defined by bulb 60.

Bulb 60 is provided with a second projection 66 extending upwardlytherefrom to lie against the upper portion of neck I4, the projection 66having mounted therein an outlet valve 61 similar in design andoperation to the valve 51 of the modification of Figures 4 and 5. Acylindrical member 68 is provided to connect the projection 66 of bulb60 with collar 6| hereinbefore described. This coupling 68 includes ashort tubular coupling 69 extending into registry with valve 67 and withan air duct opening 70 formed interiorly of collar Bl. Coupling 69 isradially apertured as at H and member 68 is apertured as at 12 inregistry with aperture H to provide a vent similar to vent 24 of themodification of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

The operation of the modification of Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, will beevident to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description,inasmuch as the operation is substantially identical with that of themodification of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

Thus, it may be seen that I have provided an improved unitary laboratorywash bottle adapted for use with laboratory flasks of conventionaldesign and providing means whereby a constant stream of liquid may beejected from a body of liquid contained within the flask. The flask isextremely simple in operation, and its function may be carried outmerely by the manipulation of one hand of the user, thus freeing theother hand for tasks incidental to the employment of the wash bottle. Inthe modification of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and Figures 6 to 8,inclusive, the provision of the vents 24 and 12, respectively, obviatesthe possibility of the building up of excessive pressures within theflask l I, while in the modification of Figures 4 and 5, it may be seenthat the collar portions 52 or 53 automatically provide for the releaseof excessive pressures. Further, in the modification of Figures 1 to 3,the skirt portion l1 forms a partial thermal insulating jacket for aportion of flask H making feasible the employment of the wash bottle inthe dispensing of hot liquid. It will also be appreciated that a similarinsulating portion may be provided for the other modified forms of thepresent invention.

The ease of employment of the present invention and its adaptability foruse with conventional flasks is also an important advantage of thepresent invention, inasmuch as the modifications of Figures 1 to 3 and 6to 8 may be employed by merely slipping the bulb and collar constructionover the neck of a flask. In the modification of Figures 4 and 5, it ismerely necessary to provide a small aperture in the neck ll of the flaskII and to insert the valve 51 therein followed by slipping the bulb 5|over the neck of the flask so that the flask is ready for immediate use.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An attachment for a flask of the type having an elongated open-endedneck portion, comprising: a member having a generally cylindrical collarportion arranged to engage around the end portion of such a neck and toextend therebeyond,

a delivery tube-supporting plug inserted in said collar portion, meansdefining a collapsible bulb on said member, said member having meansdefining a duct extending from said bulb and opening internally fromsaid collar portion beyond the end of the neck in communication with theneck interior through the end thereof when said member is in position onthe neck, and said member having means defining a normally open air ventfrom said duct to the outside of said member for venting the interior ofthe flask to the atmosphere.

2. An attachment for a flask of the type having an elongated, open-endedneck, comprising: a member of resiliently deformable material arrangedfor disposition on a flask neck and having an integral collar portionfor embracing the flask neck adjacent the open end thereof and extendingtherebeyond, a collapsible bulb portion secured to said member anddisposed along one side of the flask neck so that the flask may besupported and the bulb portion collapsed by one hand of the user, a ductcommunicating with said integral bulb portion and extending through saidcollar portion to a point inside said collar portion and beyond the openend of the flask neck for communication with the interior of the flask,and a normally open vent from said duct to the atmosphere and disposedclosely adjacent said collapsible bulb portion and on the same side ofthe flask neck so that it may be closed by one finger of the hand usedto both support the flask and collapse the bulb; inlet check valve meansfor admitting air into said bulb portion; and second check valve meansdisposed in said duct between said bulb portion and said vent forallowing air flow from said bulb portion into the flask while preventingbackflow from the flask to said bulb portion.

3. An attachment for a flask of the type having an elongated open-endedneck portion, comprising a closure member having a generally cylindricalcollar portion open at one end to engage around the top portion of suchneck and to extend therebeyond, a plug portion in said closure memberfor supporting a delivery tube and presenting an inner face closing theopen end of the neck, means defining a collapsible bulb on said memberextending downwardly from the open end of said collar portion, saidmember having means defining a duct extending from said bulb along saidcollar portion and plug and opening internally on the inner face of theplug so as to be in communication with the neck interior through the endthereof when said member is in position on the neck, and said memberhaving means defining a normally open air vent for venting the interiorof the flask to the atmosphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName I Date 296,435 Murdock Apr. 8, 1884 947,468 Fish Jan. 25, 19101,048,744 Schoop Dec. 13, 1912 1,238,653 Euverard Aug. 28, 19171,328,866 Yeatter June 27, 1920 1,942,845 Stephens Jan. 9, 19342,105,957 Severson Jan. 18, 1938 2,362,215 Morreale Nov. 7, 19442,510,159 Wiezer June 6, 1950 2,522,864 Degroif Sept. 19, 1950 2,545,302Lias Mar. 13, 1951

